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Paolo Viscardi

Biography

I studied Biology and Geology at the University of Bristol and Comparative Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Leeds.
 
Before I came to the Horniman in 2007 I had worked for the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, University College Dublin and Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, with roles ranging from supervising recovering heroin addicts on a back-to-work programme to practical conservation and documentation.
 
At the Horniman I’m responsible for the curation of the osteology (bone), geology (rock) and palaeontology (fossil) collections. This means that I identify and research specimens, deal with enquiries, provide access for researchers, write interpretation for objects, develop partnerships and collaborations with other institutions and provide input on issues relating to policy and legislation relating to collections.
 
In my personal time I keep a blog and I help run a biology Q&A site called Ask A Biologist. I am also involved in organising science communication events in the London area and I give talks on a variety of topics to a variety of audiences. I am a Fellow of the Linnaean Society and a member of the Natural Science Collection’s Association (NatSCA) committee. You can find me on Twitter under the name @PaoloViscardi
 
Research interests
  • Osteology
  • Biomechanics and functional anatomy
  • Taxonomy
  • Science communication
 
Publications
  • Rhino review 2011, Viscardi PV, 2012, NatSCA News. IN REVIEW
  • Running a Question-and-Answer Website for Science Education: First-Hand Experiences, Hone DW E, Taylor MP, Wynick D, Viscardi PV & Gostling N, 2011, Evolution: Education and Outreach 4(1): 1-5 [DOI: 10.1007/s12052-011-0318-5]
  • If you jump on a bandwagon, hold onto the reins, P. Viscardi, 2010, Museums Journal 110(08):p17
  • Darwin200 – beyond the bicentenary, Viscardi PW, 2010, NatSCA News 19:54-59
  • How long is a piece of Strix? Methods in measuring and measuring the measurers, Viscardi PW, Sakamoto M & Sigwart JD, 2010, Zoomorphology 129(3):185-194
  • Climate control in an uncontrollable building, Viscardi PW, Sigwart JD & Monaghan NT, 2007, Collections Forum 21(1-2):85-95
  • Bridging a chasm of understaffing, Viscardi PW & Sigwart JD, 2006, SPNHC Newsletter 20(2):12-13
  • Climate control in an uncontrollable building, Viscardi PW, Sigwart JD & Monaghan NT, 2005, NatSCA News. 6:32-34
  • Aerodynamics and energetics of intermittent flight in birds, Rayner JMV, Viscardi PW & Ward S, 2001, American Zoologist 41:188-204
 
Conference presentations
  • 2010, Natural Science Collections Association (NatSCA) - Public Engagement in Natural Science Conference, Darwin200 – beyond the bicentenary.
  • 2009, Science Online London, Online communication of science by institutions and organizations (panel).
  • 2008, The Symposium of Palaeontological Preparation and Conservation, A preliminary investigation into the removal and repair of labels from fossil specimens.
  • 2005, Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections: Realising Standards, Climate control in an uncontrollable building.
  • 2003, Society for Experimental Biology, Intermittent flight as an energy saving mechanism.
  • 1999, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Aerodynamics and energetics of intermittent flight in birds.
  • 1999, Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Missing data and the phylogeny of the Pterosauria.